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The world has enough wealth and resources to ensure that the entire human race enjoys a basic standard of living. Yet people living in countries like the Central African Republic, Burundi or the Democratic Republic of the Congo—the three poorest in the world—continue to live in desperate poverty.

Poverty, mathematician Eli Khamarov said, is like punishment for a crime you didn't commit. Dictatorial and corrupt governments can make what could be a very rich nation into a poor one. And so does a history of exploitative colonization, weak rule of law, war and social unrest, severe climate conditions or hostile, aggressive neighbors. It is often hard to pinpoint a single cause of long-term poverty, hence why economists often refer to “cycles” of poverty. For example, a country in debt will not be able to afford good schools, and a poorly educated workforce will be less capable of fixing problems and creating conditions that will attract foreign investment.

It is sadly unsurprising that all 10 of the world's poorest countries are found in Africa. Three of them are within the Sahel region, where persistent and widespread droughts cause food shortages and associated medical and social problems. Five of them are landlocked, putting them at a considerable disadvantage relative to those with access to maritime trade. The decline in commodity prices in recent years has torpedoed their better chances for progress. All have experienced political instability, disputed elections, and ethnic or religious strife.

GDP per capita is the standard metric for measuring how poor or wealthy a given nation is compared to another. To compensate for differences in living costs and rates of inflation, purchasing power parity (PPP) assess an individual’s buying power in a particular country. The current average in the top 10 poorest nations is $1,275.

Values are expressed in current international dollars, reflecting a single year's (the current year) currency exchange rates and PPP adjustments. Data source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database, April 2019.

THE 10 POOREST COUNTRIESIN THE WORLD

10. Madagascar

Situated 400 kilometers off the coast of East Africa, Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world. Known for its astonishing wildlife, the flourishing tourism industry has not been able to lift the country out of poverty. The majority of the population is still dependent upon agriculture for their livelihoods, leaving the country’s economy especially vulnerable to weather-related disasters. Since becoming independence from France in 1960, Madagascar has experienced bouts of political instability, violent coups and disputed elections. In 2013, former finance minister Hery Rajaonarimampianina won free and fair elections and as president made poverty reduction and infrastructure development major priorities. During his time in power, growth increased steadily, rising from 2.2% to over 5%. However, the 2018 election was beset by allegations of fraud, raising the risk of renewed political instability. Controversial businessman Andry Rajoelina, who already held the presidency between 2009 and 2014, returned to power. Hopefully, he will not jeopardize the progress made under his predecessor.

9. Comoros

This volcanic archipelago in the Indian Ocean, north of the Mozambique Channel, is a natural paradise with pristine beaches and incredible forest vegetation. Economically speaking, however, it is a nightmare. Unemployment amongst the generally under-educated low-skill workforce is high, as is dependence on foreign aid and technical assistance. Although the country’s lava-encrusted soil is unsuited to agriculture, most the young and rapidly increasing population of about 800,000 make their living from subsistence farming with tourism, fishing and forestry being some of the other backbones of the economy.

After gaining independence from France in 1974, Comoros went through a prolonged period of political instability that hobbled economic activity and forced many to leave the country. Current President Azali Assoumani—who returned to power for the third time in 2016—introduced a number of structural reforms and poverty-reduction programs. However, political uncertainty persists, fiscal accounts are in dire straits and extended power outages that make running a business impossible are the norm.

8. South Sudan

South Sudan is the newest nation in the world. It was born on July 9, 2011, six years after the agreement that ended the conflict with Sudan, Africa's longest-running civil war. However, violence has continued to ravage this land-locked state of 12.5 million. Formed by the 10 southern-most territories of Sudan and home to around 60 indigenous ethnic groups, a new conflict broke out in 2013 when president Salva Kiir accused his former deputy, rebel leader Riek Machar, of staging a coup. As a result, it is estimated that nearly 400,000 people were killed in clashes and more than 4,3 million have been displaced.

South Sudan could be a very rich nation, but with oil accounting for almost all of its exports, falling commodity prices and rising security-related costs hammered the country's economy. Outside the oil sector, the majority of the population is employed in small-scale subsistence farming. In August 2018, Kiir and Machar signed a ceasefire and a power-sharing agreement. Months later, they were hosted at the Vatican, where Pope Francis kneeled and kissed their feet in a plea to maintain peace. If they succeed, people of South Sudan may finally have a shot at living more prosperous lives.

7. Liberia

Africa’s oldest republic has also ranked amongst the poorest nations for the longest time. While the country has enjoyed peace and stability since the ending of the civil war in 2003, its governments failed to adequately address serious systemic problems and structural challenges. To add to the difficulties, this country of just 4.7 million struggled to recover from the decline in commodity prices and the major Ebola epidemic that hit West Africa in 2014.

Things seem to be looking up. Growth and per person GDP figures have shown substantial improvement, with the IMF forecasting favorable trends for years to come. What has changed? For one thing, the president: George Weah, at one time named the world's best footballer, was elected in the 2017 general election. His administration has focused on job creation, economic diversification and critical infrastructure needs and so far, his scorecard shows some positive results.

6. Mozambique

The former Portuguese colony has plenty of arable land and water, and ample energy and mineral resources. On top of that, a recently discovered natural gas offshore field could add an estimated $40 billion to its economy by 2035. Mozambique is also strategically located, as four of the six countries it borders are landlocked and depend on it as a conduit to global trade, and over the past 10 years has posted average GDP growth rates of over 5%. Yet, it remains among the top 10 poorest countries in the world, with large sectors of the population continuing to live well below the poverty line. While a 15-year long civil war ended in 1992, severe climate conditions, corruption and political instability never went away. In October 2019, the country will elect its next president and Congress, but with the eternal rivals of Mozambican politics expected to compete—Frelimo, the ruling party since 1994, and Renamo, the largest opposition party—few believe that anything will really change.

5. Niger

With 80% of its this landlocked territory covered by the Sahara desert and a rapidly growing population largely dependent upon small scale agriculture, Niger is under threat from desertification and climate change. Food insecurity is high, as are disease and mortality rates, and the army’s recurrent clashes with jihadist group and Islamic State (ISIS) affiliate Boko Haram have displaced thousands of people. One of the main driver of the economy—the extraction of valuable natural resources such as gold and uranium—has also suffered from volatility and low commodity prices.

Nevertheless, the largest nation in West Africa seems to have finally entered a new political and economic transition phase. Wracked by political coups since its independence from France in 1960, in 2011 Niger declared veteran opposition leader Mahamadou Issoufou winner of the presidential polls. Since then, the adoption of a new investment code, improved access to credit and somewhat faster access to water have contributed to a sharp increase in foreign direct investment.

4. Malawi

One of Africa’s smallest nations, in recent years Malawi has made strides in improving economic growth and implementing crucial structural reforms. Its per capita GDP, which went from about $975 in 2010 to $1,200 in 2018, is now projected to reach $1,580 by 2024. This improved outlook has been overseen by a stable and democratic government which has received considerable financial support from both the IMF and the World Bank. Nevertheless, poverty is still widespread, and the nation’s economy—largely dependent upon rain-fed crops—remains vulnerable to weather-related shocks. As a result, while living standards in urban areas are generally improving, food insecurity in rural areas is extremely high.

General elections will be held on May 21, 2019, with current president Peter Mutharika, who took the post in 2014, facing strong opposition. Malawi is a generally peaceful country that has had stable governments since gaining independence from Britain in 1964. However, disputed polls results are far from being an anomaly.

3. Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

Since gaining independence from Belgium in 1960, the Congo has suffered decades of rapacious dictatorship, political instability and constant violence. Now the country is ready to turn a page: on 24 January 2019, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo—the son of legendary opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi—was elected as the new president.

He has his work cut out for him. His controversial predecessor Joseph Kabila—who had governed since succeeding his assassinated father in 2001—is credited for bringing an end to what is commonly referred to as the “Great African War,” a conflict that claimed up to 6 million lives, either as a direct result of fighting or because of disease and malnutrition. However, he did little to improve the lives of people who survived the war: over 60% of the country’s 77 million population still live on less than two dollars a day. With 80 million hectares of arable land and over a thousand minerals and valuable metals under its surface, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has the potential to become one of the richest African nations and a driver of growth for the entire continent according to the World Bank. Political instability and endemic corruption continue to frustrate that potential.

2. Central African Republic (CAR)

Rich in gold, oil, uranium and diamonds, the Central African Republic is a very wealthy country inhabited by very poor people. However, after claiming the title of poorest in the world for the best part of the decade, this nation of just 4.7 million is showing some signs of progress.

For the first time since its independence from France in 1960, in 2016 the Central African Republic has a democratically elected a president: former mathematics professor and prime minister Faustin Archange Touadéra, who campaigned as a peacemaker who could bridge the divide between the Muslim minority and the Christian majority. While his successful election has been seen as an important step towards national reconstruction, with about 75% of the population living below the poverty line the path to recovery will be very long.

Growth has already picked up, driven by the timber industry and a revival of both agricultural and mining sector. The economy is also benefitting from the partially resumed sale of diamonds, which were found to be funding inter-religious armed groups and placed under international embargo in 2013. So far, the government has struggled to restore sales and has seen only a fraction of the revenues it once did.

1. Burundi

The small landlocked country of Burundi, scarred by Hutu-Tutsi ethnic conflict and civil war, has fallen two places in the ranking since last year. President Pierre Nkurunziza, a former Hutu rebel who won a third term last year in controversial elections boycotted by the opposition after a failed coup, has come under international pressure. In March 2016 the European Union, Burundi’s largest donor, cut funding to the government in an attempt to force Nkurunziza into talks to end the political deadlock. The political crisis pushed the country into recession and the Burundian government’s ban on trade with neighbouring Rwanda in July 2016, citing concerns over food security, has contributed to rising prices for staple foodstuffs such as potatoes. There has also been a fall in the production of coffee, the country’s main export. According to the latest UNDP Burundi survey, 82.1% of the population lives on $1.25 a day or less and 90% of the Burundian population rely on agriculture. As a result, the population is exceedingly vulnerable to price fluctuations, export restrictions, and food scarcity.

Gross domestic product (GDP) based on purchasing-power-parity (PPP) per capita.

Values are expressed in current international dollars, to the nearest whole dollar, reflecting a single year's (2018) currency exchange rates and PPP adjustments.​

Rank

Country

GDP-PPP ($)

1

Burundi

727

2

Central African Republic

746

3

Democratic Republic of the Congo

791

4

Malawi

1,234

5

Niger

1,280

6

Mozambique

1,331

7

Liberia

1,331

8

South Sudan

1,613

9

Comoros

1,662

10

Madagascar

1,698

11

Sierra Leone

1,701

12

Eritrea

1,718

13

Togo

1,820

14

Haiti

1,903

15

Guinea-Bissau

2,025

16

Afghanistan

2,086

17

Burkina Faso

1,996

18

Kiribati

2,134

19

Solomon Islands

2,297

20

Yemen

2,404

21

Guinea

2,429

22

Rwanda

2,444

23

Mali

2,474

24

Chad

2,505

25

Ethiopia

2,517

26

Benin

2,562

27

Zimbabwe

2,620

28

Uganda

2,622

29

The Gambia

2,903

30

Vantuatu

2,932

31

Nepal

3,115

32

Sao Tomè and Prìncipe

3,441

33

Lesotho

3,564

34

Tanzania

3,573

35

Tajikistan

3,578

36

Micronesia

3,584

37

Marshall Islands

3,788

38

Papua New Guinea

3,789

39

Senegal

3,864

40

Kenya

3,863

41

Cameroon

3,965

42

Kyrgyz Republic

3,979

43

Djibouti

3,999

44

Sudan

4,089

45

Zambia

4,177

46

Mauritania

4,201

47

Tuvalu

4,275

48

Còte d'Ivoire

4,454

49

Cambodia

4,643

50

Bangladesh

4,993

51

Honduras

5,390

52

Nicaragua

5,433

53

Timor-Leste

5,561

54

Pakistan

5,839

55

Nigeria

6,098

56

Samoa

6,135

57

Tonga

6,496

58

Angola

6,763

59

Ghana

6,998

60

Myanmar

7,029

61

Republic of Congo

7,119

62

Moldova

7,727

63

Cabo Verde

7,790

64

Bolivia

8,063

65

Vietnam

8,063

66

Uzbekistan

8,065

67

El Salvador

8,313

68

India

8,484

69

Lao P.D.R.

8,485

70

Belize

8,642

71

Guatemala

8,709

72

Guyana

8,974

73

Morocco

9,284

74

Philippines

9,494

75

Jordan

9,651

76

Jamaica

9,729

77

Ukraine

9,743

78

Bhutan

10,015

79

Fiji

10,710

80

Armenia

10,828

81

Dominica

10,866

82

Eswatini

11,089

83

Namibia

11,516

84

Ecuador

11,700

85

Libya

12,051

86

Kosovo

12,154

87

Georgia

12,282

88

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

12,431

89

Nauru

12,433

90

Tunisia

12,801

91

South Africa

13,865

92

Paraguay

13,913

93

Sri Lanka

13,954

94

Indonesia

14,019

95

Egypt

14,028

96

Albania

14,102

97

Bosnia and Herzegovina

14,164

98

Mongolia

14,270

99

Peru

14,892

100

St. Lucia

15,001

101

Lebanon

15,526

102

Palau

15,576

103

Suriname

15,526

104

Colombia

15,576

105

Algeria

15,765

106

North Macedonia

16,455

107

Brazil

16,662

108

Grenada

17,071

109

Iraq

18,008

110

Costa Rica

18,183

111

Iran

18,505

112

Serbia

18,567

113

Botswana

18,654

114

Azerbaijan

18,794

115

Barbados

18,798

116

Gabon

19,159

117

Dominican Republic

19,516

118

China

19,520

119

Montenegro

19,098

120

Turkmenistan

20,409

121

Argentina

20,425

122

Thailand

20,474

123

Belarus

20,820

124

Mexico

21,107

125

Equatorial Guinea

21,441

126

Maldives

23,154

127

Uruguay

24,052

128

Bulgaria

24,485

129

Mauritius

25,059

130

Chile

27,059

131

Panama

27,305

132

Turkey

27,391

133

Croatia

27,580

134

Romania

27,753

135

Kazakhstan

28,515

136

Antigua and Barbuda

29,298

137

Russia

30,284

138

Greece

30,506

139

St. Kitts and Nevis

31,095

140

Latvia

31,491

141

Seychelles

31,809

142

Malaysia

32,455

143

Trinidad and Tobago

32,684

144

Portugal

33,166

145

Hungary

33,708

146

Poland

33,747

147

The Bahamas

34,421

148

Estonia

35,718

149

Lithuania

36,997

150

Slovak Republic

35,099

151

Slovenia

38,364

152

Czech Republic

39,088

153

Israel

39,160

154

Aruba

40,160

155

Italy

40,206

156

Puerto Rico

40,796

157

New Zealand

41,179

158

Spain

41,538

159

Cyprus

41,416

160

South Korea

41,416

161

Japan

45,565

162

Oman

46,782

163

United Kingdom

46,782

164

France

46,978

165

Finland

48,006

166

Malta

48,246

167

Belgium

49,480

168

Canada

50,626

169

Bahrain

50,868

170

Denmark

53,552

171

Australia

53,559

172

Austria

53,716

173

Sweden

54,071

174

Germany

53,854

175

Taiwan Province of China

55,244

176

Iceland

56,530

177

Saudi Arabia

56,817

178

Netherlands

58,255

179

San Marino

61,5552

180

United States

64,767

181

Switzerland

65,707

182

Hong Kong SAR

66,517

183

Kuwait

67,969

184

United Arab Emirates

70,474

185

Norway

77,738

186

Ireland

82,439

187

Brunei Darussalam

83,777

188

Singapore

103,717

189

Luxembourg

108,813

190

Macao

122,201

191

Qatar

134,623

Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook April 2019.